Automatic refrigeration coil coolant supplying apparatus



May 14, 1968 s. VAN DYCK AUTOMATIC REFRIGERATION COIL COOLANT SUPPLYING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1966 George Van Dyc k INVENTOR United States Patent 3,383,045 AUTOMATIC REFRIGERATION COIL COOLANT SUIPLYING APPARATUS George Van Dyck, Lake Oswego, 0reg., assignor of seventy-five percent to John F. Deremiah, Lake Oswego,

Oreg.

Filed May 10, 1966, Ser. No. 549,047 5 Claims. (Cl. 239-127) This invention relates to refrigeration equipment, and more particularly to simplified apparatus for supplying liquid coolant for the coils of refrigeration equipment.

In the use of refrigeration equipment, such as is employed in supermarkets, etc., the refrigerant is passed through coils which, at one stage, are cooled by a water spray to reduce the temperature of the refrigerant. The cooling water falls by gravity into a collecting receptacle from whence it is recirculated and sprayed over the coils.

In order to inhibit the formation of scale and other forms of corrosion on the refrigeration coils, the liquid coolant generally includes a predetermined concentration of corrosion inhibiting chemicals suCh as sulfuric acid, alkali metal chromates and various others well known in the art. Inasmuch as some of the content of the chemical inhibitors is utilized in the process and some of the cooling water is evaporated in cooling the refrigeration coils, means must be provided for making up the losses of chemical and cooling water continually in order to maintain proper concentration of the inhibiting solution.

Whereas equipment heretofore provided for the purpose of maintaining proper concentration of inhibiting solution, has been quite complex, bulky and expensive, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide such equipment in very simplified and compact form for economical manufacture and versatile utility.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of apparatus of the class described in a substantially unitized package for connection to conventional refrigeration coil cooling towers with speed and facility and with minimum alteration of the tower.

A further important object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of the class described which functions automatically to maintain substantially constant the volume and concentration of the aqueous corrosion inhibiting coolant solution for the cooling tower.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single view is a vertical front elevaton in somewhat schematic form showing associated with a conventional refrigeration coil cooling water, coolant supplying apparatus embodying the features of the present invention.

For purposes of illustration the drawing shows a form of conventional cooling tower which includes an open housing in which is contained a portion of the refrigeration coil 12 to be cooled. This portion of the coil is disposed below a plurality of coolant liquid spray nozzles 14 which communicate with the feed pipe 16 connected to the outlet side of the rotary liquid pump 18 driven by the electric motor 20. The pump inlet communicates through the pipe 22 with a collecting receptacle 24 provided in the bottom of the cooling tower housing and functions to collect the coolant liquid which falls by gravity from the refrigeration coil. The collected liquid is pumped to the spray nozzles under pressure from whence it is sprayed upon the refrigeration coils to cool the refrigerant therein.

Liquid coolant is supplied to the collecting receptacle 24 of the cooling tower by apparatus of the present invention illustrated in the left hand portion of the drawing. A housing 26 forms at its lower end a container 28 for a 3,383,045 Patented May 14, 1968 supply of concentrated aqueous solution of corrosion inhibiting material.

A water supply conduit 30, adapted for connection at one end to a source of water under pressure, extends into the housing 26 above the container 28. A manually operable control valve 32 is interposed in this conduit adjacent the outer side of the housing, for adjusting the volume of water. Within the housing a fill conduit 34 connects at its upper end to the water supply conduit 30 and terminates at its lower end within the container, preferably adjacent the bottom end thereof. A manually operable valve 36 is interposed in this fill conduit, and serves to admit water into the container for admixture With chemicals to provide the concentrated solution.

The corrosion inhibiting chemicals are introduced into the container by opening the hinged cover 38.

By extending the fill conduit 34 to adjacent the bottom of the container, water entering the container tends to stir the contents thereof, thus promoting thorough mixing and maximum speed of dissolution of the chemicals.

The water supply conduit 30 communicates through the electrically actuated shut off valve 40 and the check valve 42 with the main inlet of an aspirator 44. The outlet of the aspirator is connected through the conduit 30 to the collecting receptacle 24 of the cooling tower. An auxiliary inlet of the aspirator communicates through the conduit 46 with the lower portion of the container 28, through the manually adjustable valve 4% and the check valve 50.

Check valves 42 and 50 are provided to accommodate positioning of the apparatus below the level of liquid in the collecting receptacle, by prevening back-flow therefrom. Check valve 50 also functions to prevent supply water from entering the container 28.

A bleed conduit 52 is connected at one end to the feed pipe 16 communicating with the outlet of the pump. This bleed conduit extends through the housing 26 wherein are interposed the electrically actuated shut off valve 54 and the manually adjustable flow control valve 56. The outer end of the bleed conduit is directed to communicate with a drain.

In the embodiment illustrated, the electrically actuated valves 40 and 54 are operated by the electrical solenoids 58 and 60, respectively, the coils of which are connected in parallel across the low voltage secondary winding 62 of the transformer 64. The primary winding 66 of the transformer is adapted for connection to a conventional source of electric power. For example, the primary winding may be connected through the plug 68 to a standard supply of volts, the secondary winding providing 24 volts for the solenoid coils.

The solenoid coils are connected across the secondary winding 62 of the transformer through the electric switch 70 of a conventional float switch mechanism. The float component 72 is arranged to be responsive to changes in level 74 of coolant liquid in the collecting receptacle 24 of the cooling tower.

In the operation of the apparatus described hereinbefore, a predetermined quantity of the corrosion inhibiting material is introduced into the container 28 and the manual valve 36 is opened to admit water from the supply conduit 36. When the required volume of water has been introduced into the container, the valve 36 is closed. The container thus confines a quantity of an aqueous solution of corrosion inhibiting material, either as a saturated solution or as a solution providing a predetermined concentration substantially greater than the concentration desired for the ultimate coolant liquid.

Assuming that the collecting receptacle 24 contains no liquid, the float element 72 of the float switch mechanism is depressed, effecting closure of the switch 70 and consequent completion of the electric circuits of the coils of solenoids 58 and 60. The valves 40 and 54 thus are opened.

In this condition, however, it will be understood that the electric motor 20 is deenergized in order to prevent damage to the pump 18, and therefore no liquid is being discharged through the bleed conduit 52.

Water under pressure from the supply passes through the supply conduit 3%) and valves 40 and 42, thence through the aspirator 44 to the collecting receptacle 24. As this water passes through the aspirator, the latter functions to draw concentrated solution from the container 28 upwardly through the mixing conduit 46 into the stream of supply water. The proportion of concentrated solution thus mixed with the supply water is adjusted to the desired degree (determined by chemical analysis) by adjustment of one or both of the manually adjustable valves 32, 48.

When the diluted aqueous solution reaches a predetermined level 74 in the collecting receptacle, the float is elevated to open the switch 70 and thus deenergize the solenoid coils, thereupon effecting closure of the associated valves 44} and 54. The electric motor 26 now may be activated to circulate the coolant liquid from the collecting receptacle 24 throu h the pump 13 and feed pipe 16 to the spray nozzles 14. The liquid then is sprayed over the refrigeration coils 12, extracting heat from the latter and the refrigerant contained therein.

A portion of the corrosion inhibiting chemicals react chemically to inhibit the formation of scale and other corrosion on the refrigeration coils, and a portion of the water is evaporated by the heat extracted from the coils. Accordingly, the coolant liquid returning by gravity from the refrigeration coils to the collecting receptacle progressively diminishes both in volume and in chemical content. Generally, loss of water by evaporation exceeds the loss of chemical content, whereupon the coolant solution collected in the receptacle progressively increases in chemical concentration.

As the level of solution in the collecting chamber dim inshes from the predetermined level 74, the float element lowers, closing the switch 7 (l and activating the solenoids 58, 60 to open the associated valves 40, 54. With the opening of valve 40, additional dilute solution of supply water from the conduit 30 and concentrated solution from the container 28, is introduced in to the collecting re ceptacle 24. Simultaneously therewith, a portion of the more concentrated solution in the collecting receptacle 24 is discharged under pressure of the pump 18 through the bleed conduit 52 and valves 54, 56 to the drain. By proper adjustment of the manual valve 56 the amount of solution thus bled oil? from the contents of the collecting receptacle may be adjusted to accommodate the required volume of makeup solution through the conduit 30' into the collecting receptacle, to restore the level 74 and to bring the total volume of solution down to proper concentration.

Periodic chemical analysis of the coolant liquid in the collecting receptacle may be desired to correct for periodic variations in the chemical content of the water supply and in the ambient temperature of the cooling tower, with corresponding adjustments being made in the settings of the valves 32, 48 and 56 to assure maintenance of the desired predetermined volume and concentration of the coolant liquid.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the present invention provides coolant supplying apparatus which is of extremely simplified construction for economical manufacture. The apparatus is substantially self-contained in a housing of minimum size for easy portability and installation in minimum space adjacent a conventional refrigeration coil cooling tower. The latter need be modilied only to the extent of providing connection for the conduits 30' and S2 and the mounting of the float switch mechanism.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts described hereinbefore without departing from the spirit of this invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and the manner in which it may be used, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for maintaining a predetermined volume and concentration of an aqueous coolant liquid solution of corrosion inhibiting material in the collecting receptacle of a refrigeration coil cooler wherein the latter includes coolant liquid spray means supplied with coolant liquid from the collecting receptacle through a motor driven pump and the coolant liquid is returned by gravity from the spray means to the collecting receptacle, the apparatus comprising (a) a container for a supply of concentrated solution of corrosion inhibiting material,

(b) water supply conduit means adapted for connection at one end to the collecting receptacle and at the opposite end to a source of water under pressure,

(0) aspirator means in the Water supply conduit means having a main inlet facing a source of water under pressure and an outlet facing a collecting, receptacle, the aspirator means also having an auxiliary inlet,

((1) mixing conduit means communicating at one end with the container and at the opposite end with the auxiliary inlet of the aspirator means,

(e) valve means in the water supply conduit means,

(f) electrical actuator means for the valve means and having an electric circuit,

(g) switch means in the electric circuit, and

(h) float means in the collecting receptacle operatively engaging the switch means for operating the latter at a predetermined level of solution in the receptacle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including adjustable valve means in the water supply conduit means for regulating the volume of supply water to the collecting receptacle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including adjustable valve means in the mixing conduit means for regulating the volume of concentrated solution to be mixed with the supply water.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including (a) bleed conduit means adapted for connection to the outlet of the pump for bleeding off a portion of the coolant liquid in the collecting receptacle,

(b) valve means in the bleed conduit means, and

(c) electrical actuator means for the bleed valve means and having an electric circuit common with the electric circuit of the actuator for the water supply valve means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including adjustable valve means in the bleed conduit means for regulating the volume of coolant liquid to be bled from the collecting receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,769 5/1936 Bird 239127 X 2,339,640 1/1944 Holinger 26l--27 2,709,346 5/1955 Shagaloff 62305 X 2,869,831 1/1959 Brockelsby 62-305 X 3,028,875 4/1962 Alguire 137-391 3,130,557 4/1964 McFarlan 261-26 X 3,313,120 4/1967 Kuss et al 62--188 M. HENSON WOOD, IR., Primary Examiner.

VAN C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR MAINTAINING A PREDETERMINED VOLUME AND CONCENTRATION OF AN AQUEOUS COOLANT LIQUID SOLUTION OF CORROSION INHIBITING MATERIAL IN THE COLLECTING RECEPTACLE OF A REFRIGERATION COIL COOLER WHEREIN THE LATTER INCLUDES COOLANT LIQUID SPRAY MEANS SUPPLIED WITH COOLANT LIQUID FROM THE COLLECTING RECEPTACLE THROUGH A MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP AND THE COOLANT LIQUID IS RETURNED BY GRAVITY FROM THE SPRAY MEANS TO THE COLLECTING RECEPTACLE, THE APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A CONTAINER FOR A SUPPLY OF CONCENTRATED SOLUTION OF CORROSION INHIBITING MATERIAL, (B) WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT MEANS ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION AT ONE END TO THE COLLECTING RECEPTACLE AND AT THE OPPOSITE END TO A SOURCE OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE, (C) ASPIRATOR MEANS IN THE WATER SUPPLY CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A MAIN INLET FACING A SOURCE OF WATER UNDER PRESSURE AND AN OUTLET FACING A COLLECTING RECEPTACLE, THE ASPIRATOR MEANS ALSO HAVING AN AUXILIARY INLET, 